1 Samuel 3

1 And the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; a vision was not frequent.

The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli lay in his place (now his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see),

At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel lay in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was,

and God’s lamp had not yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the LORD’s temple where God’s ark was,

4 that Jehovah called to Samuel. And he said, Here am I.

The LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”

5 And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call: lie down again. And he went and lay down.

He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I did not call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.

6 And Jehovah called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call, my son: lie down again.

The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son. Lie down again.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither had the word of Jehovah yet been revealed to him.

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the LORD’s word yet revealed to him.

8 And Jehovah called again the third time, Samuel! And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah was calling the boy.

The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 And Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at the other times, Samuel, Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for thy servant heareth.

The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”

11 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house; I will begin and make an end.

In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

13 For I have declared to him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he hath known: because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not restrain them.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice or oblation for ever.

Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to declare the vision to Eli.

Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the LORD’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.

16 And Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.

Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”

17 And he said, What is the word that he has spoken to thee? I pray thee, keep it not back from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou keep back anything from me of all the word that he spoke to thee.

He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.”

18 And Samuel told him all the words, and kept nothing back from him. And he said, It is Jehovah: let him do what is good in his sight.

Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

19 And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah.

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

21 And Jehovah appeared again at Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.

The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the LORD’s word.